Contract Done: Another Star….

A whopping 21 players are set to become free agents from the San Francisco 49ers. Only some players will be back on the 49ers, while others will not be retained or find better deals. One of those free agents that the 49ers should definitely re-sign is defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw. 2023 was an impressive year from Kinlaw where he finally was able to finish an entire season. Injuries did not play a part at any point for him dating as far back as training camp. Clearly Kinlaw has found a way to mitigate those injuries and is starting to find his stride. The 49ers should bank on that “stride” of Kinlaw. I think there is a decent chance that Kinlaw ascends in 2024, so whatever deal they sign him to will easily look like a bargain if he does. It’s worth the shot to see if he does given how his arrow looks to finally be pointed upward. At the very least, they know they are bringing back a solid player who gives them what they need against the run and as a pass rusher. Re-signing him will most likely not prove costly. I would imagine a one-year deal worth $3 million with incentives will get it done, and I’d suspect Kinlaw would want to come back. He’s finally putting it together, so it would be tough for him to want to potentially ruin that going elsewhere. A deal with Kinlaw makes so much sense. The 49ers should also want to retain as much continuity on the defensive line as possible. A handful of players at the position are set to be free agents. It would be wise to bring at least a couple of them back with Kinlaw as one of them. Roll the dice on him for one more year and see if he doesn’t come close to the player they envisioned when they drafted him four years ago.

The NFL blessed the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers on Friday when it announced its decision on compensatory draft picks for the 2024 draft. The 49ers received the most compensatory picks for April of any NFL team.

Per a statement by the NFL, the 49ers are set to receive five compensatory picks for the upcoming draft, including one for Day 2.

The 49ers received four Day 3 picks for losing compensatory free agents. Per a statement by the league, the 49ers received a third-round pick for this draft due to former defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans becoming the head coach of the Houston Texans last offseason:

” A special compensatory selection was awarded to the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers under a 2020 amendment to the League’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was agreed upon by the NFL and the NFLPA to promote equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce within NFL clubs.

This initiative provides that the prior employer-club of a minority employee who has been hired by another club as its head coach or primary football executive (general manager) will receive compensation in the form of a special compensatory draft selection in the third round of each of the next two drafts, or in each of the next three drafts if two minority employees from the employer-club are hired for these positions by another club or clubs.”